Mystery Oil Spill; Mona Island, Puerto Rico

Mona Island, Puerto Rico | 1988-Jul-29

Initial Notification: On July 29, 1988, the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office (MSO), San Juan, Puerto Rico, received a report of "heavy black oil" washing ashore on the entire south coast of Mona Island, 40 miles west of Puerto Rico. Upon further investigation, it was determined that on July 13 or 14, an oil spill of unknown origin and quantity had occurred off of the southeast coast of Mona Island, with especially heavy impacts on the Playa de Pajaros beach area.